Edward joshua blackburn scratton



(No Model.)

B. J. B. SCRATTON. PORTABLE SAFETY TARGET.

N0. 570,820. Patented Nov 3 1896' v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD JOSHUA BLACKBURN SORATTON, OF ST. ANDREWS, SCOTLAND.

PO RTABLE SAFETY-TARG ET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,820, dated November 3, 1896.

I Application filed April 28, 1896. Serial No. 589,447. (No model.)

1'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD JOSHUA BLACKBURN SCRATTON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of St. Andrews, county of Fife, Scotland, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Safety-Targets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in safety-targets, and has for its object to permit of the extremely popular pastime of rifleshooting being practiced with absolute safety in confined spaces, such as ordinary rooms, back yards, gardens, and the like, but which are capable of application in any situation, and whereby the bullet-lead used can be recovered.

Hitherto the amusement of rifle, pistol, and revolver shooting in confined spaces has been indulged in by but few, owing to the extreme danger of the return of parts or all of the projectile after striking an ordinary wooden or metal target. By my improvements all such danger is completely overcome and rifle and pistol practice with suitable weapons, such as saloon, pea, and rook rifles and pistols, can be indulged in with perfect safety in any ordinary room, back yard, garden, and the like, while at long ranges, both with small arms and heavy guns, the metal of the projectiles can be recovered when targets constructed on the principles of my invention are used.

According to my improvements the target is so constructed that the projectile will penetrate through a front medium and is flattened or stopped against a back or secondary medium, and the splintered projectile can be effectively trapped and recovered.

In order that others skilled in the art to which my invention relates may understand how same may be carried into practice, I have hereunto appended a sheet of explanatory drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective elevation of a target complete, as constructed in accordance with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the bullet-penetrable front cover of target removed, and Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the improvements would be carried into practice by constructing a rectangular-shaped box of wood, in which the back or rear side is protected by a sheet of metal Ct, while the other sides a and a with the exception of the front I), may be protected by thin sheet metal, although this in some cases need not be necessary.

The front side I) would be formed of tough wood which a bullet can pass clean through. The thickness of the front I) and of the armorplating at back and sides will be determined by the penetrative power of the projectile and weapon employed.

The fronts b would be made portable and removable, such as being temporarily secured between a lower clip 0 and an upper clip 0, these clips being formed with central slots 0 in which work thumb-screws 0 so as to secure a front cover I), of any desired thickness. By this means the fronts b are made interchangeable, so that when a front becomes worn out, which takes some time, it can be replaced by a new front at a trifling cost.

Fronts of various thickness could be supplied with each target.

The front I) may be formed of a greater breadth than the box part, so that same can be adjustable and can be shifted along as it gets perforated by the bullets.

A paper carton d, with bulls-eye and circles, would be aflixed by pins to the outer surface of the wooden front I), and the target would then be ready for use.

A bullet striking the penetrable front 17 goes clean through it and flattens itself or flies to pieces against the armor-protected back a. The lightly-protected sides and the wooden-front b eifectually preventany particles of metal from returning. The splintered projectile cannot leave the target-box, but falls to its bottom' and can there be collected at pleasure.

Thus it will be seen that with this target not a vestige of the projectile is able,- as formerly, to return and by its rebound or ricochet put out an eye or maima limb.

When these targets are employed for artillery and heavy-gun practice, they would preferably be made entirely of metal with the front cover.

hat I claim is In testimony whereof I have signed my A portable safetytarget comprising a name to this specification in the presence of closed box lined with armor-plating, and a two subscribing Witnesses.

penetrable front cover carrying the bulls- EDWARD JOSHUA BLACKBURN SCRATTON. 5 eye, with adjustable clips removably secnr- \Vitnesses:

mg the said front cover in place upon the H. S. O. EVERARD,

box, substantially as described. A. S. BUTLER. 

